*Contract guaranteed for only $897,158.
**After using up their available cap space, the Lakers will then still have the MLE room exception (valued at about $5 million next year) to use on another free agent.

*Contract guaranteed for only $897,158.
**After using up their available cap space, the Lakers will then still have the MLE room exception (valued at about $5 million next year) to use on another free agent.

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Cap Space Math in Trading for Anthony Davis Mid-2019/2020 Season After Signing > 10 Year Max Free Agent in Summer 2019
As Anthony Davis only makes about $25 million this year, there are many scenarios where the Lakers could trade for him mid-season (if the Pelicans were willing). It would only take sending a little over $20 million back. However, if the Lakers trade for Davis before the summer and before signing another max free agent, in doing so, it would mean taking on salary that then could not be used on a second 10+ year tier max player.

For example, doing the numbers, a trade which involves Kuz + Ingram + expiring filler (i.e. Rondo, Stephenson, KCP, etc.) leaves the Lakers with only about $19 million in cap space next summer. As a second example, a deal that includes Ingram + Ball + expiring filler leaves the Lakers with about $25 million in cap space next summer. In this second scenario, that may be enough to sign a really good player, but not enough to give any player a max contract. (See the salary breakdown above re: signing a 10+ max player in summer 2019)

Accordingly, the only way to get both a 10+ year max player like Durant plus Anthony Davis is to (in order) (1) trade our 2019 1st round pick (to free up the space for a max slot), (2) sign Durant, (3) sign a room exception guy, and (4) trade for Davis in the mid-season 2019/2020 trade deadline using both Ingram/Ball + the MLE guy + one of Kuzma, Hart, Wagner, Svi or Bongo OR a vet min. guy.

Here is how our cap situation will likely look next season assuming we sign Durant and wait to trade for AD -

Given Davis' $27,093,019 salary, we would need to send out at least $22,000,000 in salary from the salaries above. Again, that means a baseline of at least Ball + Ingram (a total of ~$16 million). The remaining $6 million could be filled using our room exception guy ($4.67m) + one of Kuzma, Hart, Bonga, Svi or Wagner or a Vet Min. guy._________________LakersGround's Terms of Service

Last edited by LakerSanity on Mon Mar 18, 2019 4:01 pm; edited 19 times in total

Plan A - Trade Deng, Sign UFA Kawhi Leonard, retain Rondo and pick up a guy that can eat minutes as a Center?_________________"To arrive at a contradiction is to confess an error in one's thinking; to maintain a contradiction is to abdicate one's mind and to evict oneself from the realm of reality." Ayn Rand

Sort by "practical cap space". It doesn't include the possibility that teams can dump a bad 2016 contract to open up even more space.

But I'd say keep an eye out for the Knicks, Nets, Mavs, Clips and Sixers. The other teams with cap space are either terrible and/or too small of a market to attract the big fish (yes, the NY teams are awful but it's NY).

Sort by "practical cap space". It doesn't include the possibility that teams can dump a bad 2016 contract to open up even more space.

But I'd say keep an eye out for the Knicks, Nets, Mavs, Clips and Sixers. The other teams with cap space are either terrible and/or too small of a market to attract the big fish (yes, the NY teams are awful but it's NY).

yeah, I think once you factor in the possibility of stretching contracts, I have seen estimates of 15-20 teams._________________"To arrive at a contradiction is to confess an error in one's thinking; to maintain a contradiction is to abdicate one's mind and to evict oneself from the realm of reality." Ayn Rand

I think the chances are greater that we hire David Blatt as the Head Coach next season than they are we sign Klay Thompson._________________"To arrive at a contradiction is to confess an error in one's thinking; to maintain a contradiction is to abdicate one's mind and to evict oneself from the realm of reality." Ayn Rand

Sort by "practical cap space". It doesn't include the possibility that teams can dump a bad 2016 contract to open up even more space.

But I'd say keep an eye out for the Knicks, Nets, Mavs, Clips and Sixers. The other teams with cap space are either terrible and/or too small of a market to attract the big fish (yes, the NY teams are awful but it's NY).

I tihnk our only real competition is the Sixers (maybe the knicks if Porky returns to form after injury). This free agency period has shown how difficult it is to lure a top free agent without there already being elite talent on a team. Just having 2 max slots is not going to cut it.

We're extremely lucky to have lebron. Out of the list only the sixers have a team which is already extremely talented prior to a max signing. Even then, I still give us the edge due to location. LA> Philly as a place to live by a mile.

Sort by "practical cap space". It doesn't include the possibility that teams can dump a bad 2016 contract to open up even more space.

But I'd say keep an eye out for the Knicks, Nets, Mavs, Clips and Sixers. The other teams with cap space are either terrible and/or too small of a market to attract the big fish (yes, the NY teams are awful but it's NY).

I tihnk our only real competition is the Sixers (maybe the knicks if Porky returns to form after injury). This free agency period has shown how difficult it is to lure a top free agent without there already being elite talent on a team. Just having 2 max slots is not going to cut it.

We're extremely lucky to have lebron. Out of the list only the sixers have a team which is already extremely talented prior to a max signing. Even then, I still give us the edge due to location. LA> Philly as a place to live by a mile.

The Knicks clogged up some cap space last summer with the Hardaway signing. It won't be easy to turn things around and their FO could be in over their heads trying to fix it.

I predict that our stars are already on the roster with Lonzo, Kuzma and Ingram. I think Lonzo shows a consistent jumper this season and Kuzma and Ingram improve on last season as scorers. I believe that lebron being here and thier natural development will unlock thier star potential.

Next summer will be about bringing in star role players imo

Are there any small ball 5’s on the market? Maybe bring randle back

I really think this team is ready now after watching Boston in the playoffs. Lonzo, hart, Ingram and Kuzma will show the nba why laker fans think they are equal are better to any other young core in the nba.

LINK_________________"To arrive at a contradiction is to confess an error in one's thinking; to maintain a contradiction is to abdicate one's mind and to evict oneself from the realm of reality." Ayn Rand

1. Two out of BI/Kuz/Zo trend to all star levels
2. The third is a solid rotation player
3. Hart plays well enough to warrant 10-15 minutes/game in the rotation
4 One of Mo/Svi is trending to where Hart is now!
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5. Ain't trading ANY of the above to dump Deng!
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If we do get Kawhi, then imho, we've got to get some vet-min (1.5-2.5M) ring chasers. I'd expect a bruiser/rebounder for sure.

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If we reach at least the WCF this 18-19 season, we're all set with the above composition to compete for O'Brien in 19-20.

This is my (second to) best case scenario. My best case, of course is that we win it all this year, in which case we'd definitely bring back KCP! On the flip side I don't particularly think we'll do worse than that! I'm an optimist!